Helena MT Moving Companies

Helena, Montana

More than just a great city, Helena and the surrounding area offer year-round opportunities for residents and visitors alike. The landscape provides varied outdoor activities from boating, fishing and hunting to hiking, biking, skiing and golf. Helena’s rich history also offers a variety of historical buildings, including the Saint Helena Cathedral, the Montana State Capitol and a historic downtown walking mall. Whatever it is you are looking for, you are sure to find when moving to Helena.

History:
In 1864, four ex-Confederate soldiers from Georgia discovered placer gold in Last Chance Gulch, the heart of Helena's present-day downtown. The gold strike attracted hundreds of miners eager to find riches. Over the next 20 years 3.5 billion dollars worth of gold was discovered in the gulch. By 1870, Helena, with a population of 3,106 people, had become the most important town in the Montana Territory. In 1875, Helena was made the capital of the Montana Territory. Like other Montana towns, Helena experienced boom-or-bust cycles. In the first part of the 20th century, Helena's population showed modest growth. During the mid-1930s, at the time of the Great Depression, the federal government employed hundreds of Helena citizens to repair the State Capitol and the county courthouse and to landscape a city park. New federal monetary policies increased the price of gold and silver and stimulated mining, which once again regained its importance in the life of the city. During the 1960s, urban renewal changed the face of downtown Helena, and a pedestrian mall was built to attract tourists. Preservation fervor and urban renewal programs in the 1970s resulted in further downtown development. Today, Helena is an attractive place that retains vintage residential and commercial structures while providing modern shops, distinctive restaurants, and modern entertainment centers for residents and visitors alike.

Economy:
For many years, Helena has enjoyed a record of economic stability. It serves as a major governmental center for the county, state, and federal government. It is also a trading and transportation center for nearby livestock, mining, and farming enterprises. In an area rich in silver and lead deposits, Helena maintains an interest in mineral production and processing, and the nearby city of East Helena is the site of smelters, quartz crushers, and zinc reduction works. The Helena area is also a telephone communications center, and industries such as sand and gravel and ranching remain important. Statewide, Montana's fastest-growing industries include education and instruction, waste management, and construction. Specific occupations showing significant growth include textile machinery operation, septic and sewer maintenance, and computer software engineering. Government positions account for 31 percent of Helena's workforce, while private sector jobs comprise 62 percent. Many of the private businesses rely on the government and its employees as their customers. The Helena area labor force includes a high percentage of young, educated workers. The percentage of adults in the community who have received high school and college diplomas is considerably higher than the state and national average. Helena's stable economy is based primarily on a range of government agencies and small businesses. Skills in demand include textile machinery operation, septic and sewer maintenance, and computer software engineering. In recent years, growth has been observed in the fields of education and instruction, waste management and construction.

Tourism:
Head over to the Holter Museum of Art for a day of art and education. The museum is the perfect place to bring the entire family, and offers exhibits from around the world. Next, visit the Montana Historical Society. At this history museum, you will experience art from around the area through interactive exhibits and displays. To explore the great outdoors, head to Mount Helena. This outdoor oasis is the perfect place for hiking, biking, fishing and viewing wildlife. Or, check out the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop, or the Great Divide Ski Area. Both offer great outdoor fun and, if the season is right, some of the area’s best skiing and snowboarding conditions. Next, walk around Last Chance Gulch, the main street in the downtown business district, which takes its name from the four prospectors who discovered gold there in 1864. Here you will experience historic walking areas, mine exploration and more. Before calling it a day, check out Helena National Forest. This forest offers easy viewing of many different types of wildlife because of its proximity to the city.

Colleges and Universities:

• University of Montana - Helena
• Carroll College

Interesting Facts:

• In 1992, the Montana House of Representatives voted to protect 1.5 million acres of Montana from development, including some local Helena area sites.
• In the late 1800s, Helena was home to more millionaires per capita, than anywhere else was in the world.